Starbucks workers in three U.S. states have filed legal action against the coffee chain, alleging that its recently revised dress code has forced employees to buy new clothes without compensation.
Class-action lawsuits were lodged Wednesday in Illinois and Colorado state courts, while workers in California filed complaints with the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency. If the agency declines to act, employees intend to pursue a class-action lawsuit there as well.
The cases, supported by Starbucks Workers United, argue that the dress code change violates state laws requiring employers to reimburse expenses that primarily benefit the company.
New standards spark costs and complaints
Starbucks’ updated policy, which took effect May 12, requires employees across North America to wear solid black shirts under their signature green aprons, paired with khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms, or solid black dresses. Shoes must be subdued in color, waterproof, and made of specific materials, while restrictions include no more than one facial piercing and a ban on face tattoos and “theatrical makeup.”
The company said the changes were intended to provide consistency and create a more welcoming in-store atmosphere. “As part of this change, and to ensure our partners were prepared, partners received two shirts at no cost,” Starbucks noted in a statement.
However, workers say the policy has left them paying out-of-pocket for clothing that meets the stricter rules.
Brooke Allen, a student and Starbucks worker in Davis, California, said she spent over $140 on new workwear after her manager told her that her Crocs did not comply. “It’s extremely tone deaf on the company’s part to expect their employees to completely redesign their wardrobe without any compensation,” she said.
Other employees reported similar struggles, with some denied reimbursement requests for items ranging from black jeans to the removal of nose piercings.
A new front in the union battle
The lawsuits mark a shift in worker strategy amid a broader unionization push. Starbucks Workers United has already organized 640 of the company’s roughly 10,000 U.S. stores and filed hundreds of unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
While the union previously challenged the dress code through the NLRB, the new lawsuits move the fight to state courts, where laws on employee reimbursements may carry more weight.
For now, the plaintiffs seek damages for all affected employees in their states, unionized or not. The outcome could influence how far companies can go in imposing dress code changes without compensating workers already navigating tight budgets.
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